SWNOVELXO Chapter 189: Daily Life (2)
Tuesday has rolled around again.
“Hello? Oh, Yoon Seung-ah. It’s me…”
I raise my mobile phone and continue my call with a familiar acquaintance.
The past few days have been nothing short of peaceful.
There was a mysterious researcher who came by, leaving me with a vague feeling of unease for a while, but aside from that, there haven’t been any noticeable changes in my daily life.
‘Searching for that guy’s father didn’t yield much either.’
However, amidst this monotony, my only schedule has suddenly been thrown into disarray.
Originally, I had a class planned once over the weekend, and once on a weekday according to Jeong Ha-seong’s preference.
– Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter, I’m sorry, but can we push this week’s weekday schedule to the weekend?
– So you want to do Saturday and Sunday back-to-back?
– Yes.
– I don’t mind, but why the sudden change?
– Actually, a few days ago, my mother’s caregiver abruptly quit due to personal reasons. So, I’ll be a bit busy this week hiring someone new and handover a few tasks.
Well… it looks like there’s a valid reason for the sudden change.
So, I decided to make the most of this long-awaited free time.
I tried out a cultural activity that I had been curious about for a while.
“Yoon Seung-ah, I’m sorry for the sudden request, but could you help me out with something if you have time?”
Of course, I’ve always been interested in foreign cultures since my previous life.
While I was busy regaining my strength, I hadn’t really had the chance to engage in leisurely activities.
So this time, I resolved to visit an aquarium.
But sadly, Kim Gi-ryeo’s brain didn’t possess any information about such activities.
‘Honestly, I don’t even know how to buy tickets… what if I can’t get them on-site?’
I sought out a local’s help to ensure that this rare attempt wouldn’t fail.
– You’re planning to go to the aquarium on a weekday?
*
…And thus, I arrived at this aquarium.
‘Everything’s so blue.’
In cobalt blue water, small creatures swarm about.
The lower part of this artificial ecosystem is filled with light pink coral and shells, emitting a pleasant ocean scent.
Perhaps because the indoor lighting is kept dim, the flow of the water in the tanks is distinctly visible.
The shimmering scales of the swimming tropical fish were captivating.
“Brother! From my research, this aquarium has shows every 30 minutes starting from around 2 PM. Mainly explaining the penguin habitat, a mermaid-themed performance, oh! And I found out they recently renovated their VR experience zone.”
I didn’t really ask for this level of help…
I just meant to learn how to book tickets without missing out on a discount.
Seriously, when Ahn Yoon-seung heard that this outing was my first time, he jumped at the chance offering to be my guide.
And he came with a plan that took up three A4 pages.
If I followed his detailed itinerary, we would end up spending a staggering 3 hours and 45 minutes watching all the performances.
Even so, wasting an A-Class Hunter’s precious time felt a bit excessive.
“By the way, Yoon-seung, don’t you have any dungeon exploration plans today?”
I cautiously asked the cheerful local who rushed out to join us.
In response, the hunter eagerly replied without catching his breath, “Oh, don’t worry about that! I heard you were in a bind, so I took a day off immediately!”
A day off?
I’ve never really taken a vacation in my previous life, so I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. But judging by his bright attitude, it must be a good thing.
“Okay, thanks.”
Well then, I won’t hold back from enjoying this outing.
With Yoon-seung’s guidance, we began a delightful tour.
First, we visited the tank with tropical fish that are commonly seen in the media.
Next was the underwater tunnel housing sharks.
After seeing various species like starfish clinging to the sea floor, we finally reached a glass wall.
“Wow~ Jellyfish.”
As indicated by my earlier comments, in my hometown, Alphauri, mammals hadn’t really evolved much.
There aren’t as many types here compared to Earth, either.
To make it simple, the gap between mammals and me is like the difference between Earthlings and those fish.
“Ah, so the aquarium is really about observing live animals in enclosures.”
“Well, yes?”
If that’s the case, what did Alphaurians originate from?
The answer seemed to lie right in front of me, in the tank.
‘My ancestors…’
Flutter, flutter.
I found myself lost in strange contemplation while observing the jellyfish drifting gracefully within the massive tank.
These gelatinous creatures of the sea, that’s it.
If I were to trace my lineage back, it would indeed lead to the phylum Cnidaria…
‘They look way too much like my ancestors.’
Though there are considerable taxonomic differences between Earth and Alphauri, one might argue we could trace a lineage back to cephalopods.
Many modern-day Alphaurians have undergone physical modifications, so likening it to any layer of biological structure might be moot.
‘But still, I get the vibe that my ancestry lies somewhere between jellyfish and octopus.’
As I gazed at the tank filled with primitive living beings, I thought to myself.
But how cold-blooded are Earthlings?
It’s not like observing creatures in confinement is something absent from my homeland.
Such practices existed for scholars or research purposes, but ordinarily, displaying life openly as a playground for the public didn’t happen.
‘Locking marine beings in such a cramped space might likely cause mental issues.’
Swish.
‘And yet families hold hands laughing and enjoying the view…?’
When I turned my head, I spotted a cheerful child smiling in front of the beluga tank.
Her family was equally beaming, capturing her photo with gleeful smiles.
This warm scene felt somewhat unnerving to a certain tentacled creature.
Zoos and aquariums were indeed peculiar cultures to Alphaurians.
‘Those scary aliens…’
Yet still, this was all part of the sightseeing I desired.
Colorful fish, convict blennies, aquatic horses, even reptiles with bumpy shells…
Lifeforms met across the vast cosmos felt nothing short of magical to an outsider.
It was enchanting.
Though I came fleeing for not-so-great reasons, I now found new sentiments soaking in this scenery thanks to my reincarnation.
‘What a marvelous planet.’
My inherent scholarly nature began shifting my mindset slowly.
‘It’d be a shame to die without exploring a place like this.’
Unlike my past self, who was indifferent to death, I now found myself clinging a bit more to life.
At the very least, I wanted to see a portion of this planet called Earth before I passed away.
I wondered if I could fulfill all my wishes in this lifetime.
“By the way, thanks for taking the time today.”
I finished my thoughts and spoke to Yoon-seung.
“I mentioned it in the call, but I’ve never been to a place like this in my life.”
“You said you haven’t been even once.”
“Booking tickets was a big hassle. I had no clue about what to do on my own.”
Hearing this, Ahn Yoon-seung smiled broadly.
“Whenever you mention something you can’t do, it surprises me!”
“Why?”
“Well, usually you’re so impressive! I always have this feeling you can do anything.”
“……”
“Well, anyway, on a personal note, I’m really glad days like this where I can help you have come. So don’t worry about me!”
Then, the kind alien continued directing us with an enthusiastic grin.
“All right, shall I continue guiding you? The next exhibit is about prairie dogs!”
We moved on to the new animal habitat.
“By the way, I’ve thought about this since childhood, but why are there prairie dogs in an aquarium?”
“They stand on two legs.”
“What does that have to do with water…?”
Click.
While Ahn Yoon-seung took out his mobile to snap a picture of the animal before us, I casually glanced around.
Strangely, the number of visitors was significantly lower than I had anticipated.
‘It’s almost like we have the place to ourselves.’
Thanks to that, both Ahn Yoon-seung and I could enjoy a peaceful outing without any issues.
Considering I’d been tense since the day before, the result was rather anticlimactic.
So few people that in the prairie dog’s habitat, it seemed we were the only ones there.
“Hmm?”
But just then.
From afar, I sensed a presence emerging from the underwater tunnel.
‘Awakened…’
More accurately, I recognized the magic power emanating from awakened beings.
But it wasn’t particularly strange.
Today was a regular weekday, not a holiday. So most of the visitors would likely be hunters with flexible work hours.
“Hmm.”
However, there were a few standout details—the approaching individuals were of a different race than us.
Moreover, upon closer inspection, they were of quite high rank.
‘B-Class and A-Class.’
To have so many awakened beings gathered in one aquarium, I’d think a Dungeon Break was imminent.
“Yoon Seung-ah, aren’t you feeling hungry yet?”
“Oh, did you really come without lunch?”
“I ate, but I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
“Oh! Yes! Then let’s head to eat right away! There’s a seaside-themed cafe inside…”
A seaside-themed cafe?
‘What on earth is with all these damn cafes on this planet?’
I turned back to Yoon-seung to continue our conversation.
Following his lead, I moved forward.
After all, as they say, you need energy for sightseeing. I needed to recharge a bit to enjoy the rest of my exploration.
“Hmm.”
But just a few seconds later.
I gradually slowed my step.
“Ahn Yoon-seung.”
“Yes?”
“Suddenly, something has piqued my curiosity.”
“Yes, yes?”
“In Korea, using mental manipulation techniques like brainwashing on people is considered a serious crime, right?”
This was a somewhat abrupt topic change.
Not long ago, we were casually discussing dolphin-shaped straws at a drink shop or other light topics.
“I know it’s a serious crime, but how does one catch someone who uses such skills?”
“Uh, um…”
“I mean, how do you prove the perpetrator?”
“I’m not quite sure, but I remember news from a while back… It was in the UK? I think they mentioned something about Justitia helping them out.”
“Justitia?”
“It’s the name of a dungeon item.”
Snap.
Ahn Yoon-seung folded the aquarium guide he had been holding and paused, looking puzzled.
“Why are you asking about that all of a sudden, Brother?”
Why am I asking? Well, it’s because…
“I didn’t want to ask, but I’ve been sensing mental skills tracking us since earlier.”
I said that and naturally gripped my Item Box.
“Just in case.”
I interpreted Kim Gi-ryeo’s brain, sensing two awakened beings that appeared somewhat Hispanic trailing us ever since the first moment I recognized magic power at the underwater tunnel until now.
If they were simply following because they were curious about a famous hunter, okay. But regrettably, judging by their awakening levels, they appeared to be quite formidable.
‘It’s unlikely they would stalk someone just to get an autograph.’
I noticed the situation and whispered to Ahn Yoon-seung as quietly as possible.
“Yoon-seung, listen closely from now on. If you have your Item Box, take your equipment in hand.”
And then.
“Just in case, if something happens, use [Shield of Protection] to cover the tunnel…”
It was the moment.
Just as we arrived at the towering center tank standing 8 meters high, I heard the dreaded sound from behind us.
Bang! Clank, clang!
Someone was tailing us, realizing something was off and making their move for the first attack.
“Forget what I just said. Hold your breath and run!”
And right then, in a way that Yoon-seung couldn’t block.